Apparatus for washing a running textile web



Nov. 17., 1970 J. M. STEARNS 3,540,242

APPARATUS FOR WASHING A RUNNING TEXTILE WEB Filed July 10, 1968 MAJ FIG.4

INVENTOR JOHN M. STEARNS ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,540,242 APPARATUS FOR WASHING A RUNNING TEXTILE WEB John M. Stearns, Bedford, Mass., assignor to Riggs &

Lombard, Inc., Lowell, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed July 10, 1968, Ser. No. 743,780 Int. Cl. D06f 17/00 US. Cl. 68175 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A high speed, compact and efficient apparatus is provided for use in textile mills and the like for washing a running fabric web in open width form. The web is carried through a tank of water in which is a running continuous belt, at least one reach of which extends in closely spaced parallel relation to the path of travel of the web. The belt carries an array of spaced parallel scoops or bafiles extending transversely of the belt and adapted to direct a flow of water against and through the web, the belt being run preferably in a direction opposite to that of the web. A fixed bafile may be mounted in spaced opposition to the belt on the opposite side of the web for re-directing the water flow back through the web. Alternatively, another running belt may be disposed in opposition to the first-mentioned belt and synchronized with the first belt to maintain an oscillating Washing action of the water from one side to the other of the web.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates generally to textile washing equipment and more particularly is directed towards a new and improved high speed, high efficiency washing apparatus for use in washing or otherwise treating a running cloth web.

Description of the prior art Conventional textile washing equipment customarily is comprised of a simple tank and a series of rolls which feed the cloth in and out of the tank for several passes and a series of tanks may be arranged in stages to achieve a maximum washing effect. Such a system requires a considerable amount of space, a large number of rollers and tanks plus a large supply of water which presents disposal and contamination problems. Other washing machines are mechanically complicated, of specialized design and usually rather high priced. Furthermore, conventional textile washing equipment has not proven to be particularly efficient in achieving a thorough washing action of the material and, in some instances, damages the material because of physical contact between the cloth and the washing equipment.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in textile washing equipment. Another object of this invention is to provide a simple, low cost washing apparatus for a running textile web and one that is compact, highly efficient and requires a minimum amount of water or other washing fluid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention features an apparatus for washing a running open width fabric web, comprising a continuous belt adapted to be mounted in a tank containing a quantity of liquid washing medium and having at least one reach extending in closely spaced parallel relation to the path of travel of a web passing through the liquid. The belt carries an array of scoops or baflles extending transversely of the belt and adapted to direct a flow of liquid Patented Nov. 17, 1970 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view in side elevation of a textile washing apparatus embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a detailed side elevation showing the belt and fixed baflles of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modification thereof, and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing details of the FIG. 3 embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is disclosed an apparatus for continuously washing or otherwise treating a running open width web 10, typically a woven textile fabric, by passing it in and out of a tank 12 containing a quantity of liquid such as water or the like. Upper and lower guide rollers 16 and '18 respectively are provided for guiding the web in several passes through the bath 14 along substantially parallel paths. The rollers 16 are mounted above the tank 12 and the rollers 18 are mounted near the bottom of the tank below the surface of the liquid. The rollers 16 and 18 carry the web 10 along a series of spaced parallel vertical counterreversing paths, into and out of the liquid 14 as in a typical textile washing apparatus. In a conventional washer, the web will be run through a series of tanks, each with a similar set of rollers carrying the web into and out of the tank. This technique is expensive by reason of the large number of tanks and rollers required, takes up a considerable amount of floor space and, in addition, pollutes large quantities of water. These problems are greatly reduced and the washing action enhanced by means of a continuous belt 20 looped over spaced parallel rollers 22 and 24, at least one of which is driven. The rollers 22 and 24 are mounted in vertically spaced relation'between adjacent parallel sections of the web with the roller 24 mounted below the surface of the liquid 14 and above the roller 18 while the roller 22 may be mounted either above or below the surface of the liquid depending upon the washing action desired and as will be discussed more fully below. The rollers 22 and 24 are mounted to the walls of the tank in suitable beariugs and driven so as to carry the belt 20 in a direction which may be the same or opposite to the section of the web running adjacent to it.

The belt 20, which is best shown in FIG. 2, preferably is fabricated from a flexible material such as reinforced rubber or the like having a width at least equal to the width of the web and carrying on its outer surface a series of identical scoops 26 each adapted to direct a flow of water against the web 10. The scoops extend transversely of the belt 20 and are spaced slightly from one another. Each scoop is comprised of a more or less U-shaped channel portion 28 comprised of diverging walls 30 and 32 extending from a cross piece 34. The channel portion is mounted in spaced relation to an angle piece 36 by means of a rib or spacer 38 to define a passage 40 running from the base of the wall 30*, behind the cross piece 34 and between the wall 32 and the wall of the angle piece 36 in a more or less U-shaped path as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2. The wall 30, which is the leading member of the scoop and which will move upwardly as shown in FIG. 2, serves to direct water inwardly towards the belt into the passage where it is carried downwardly and forced outwardly towards the web as the belt advances. This outward thrust or jet of water extends across the full width of the web and Will force water to flow through the interstices of the Woven web 10. This will produce a turbulence and a flow greatly enhancing the efficiency of the washer. The outer edges of the scoop walls are even with one another and terminate in spaced relation to the web 10 so that the web does not come in contact with the scoop. Further, the jet action of the water and the turbulence tends to maintain the web away from the scoops.

In order to prevent the web from billowing out under the pumping action of the scoops and to further enhance the washing action, a fixed baffle 42 is mounted to the tank 12 parallel to each reach of the belt on the opposite side of the web 10. The bafile 42 is comprised of generally U-shaped channels 44 each made up of cross member 46 with diverging walls 48 and 50. The channel members may be individually mounted to the tank 12 parallel to the belt scoops by means of vertical rails or channel pieces 51 mounted on the inner walls of the tank and the channel pieces 44 dropped in place to form the bafile wall. Alternatively, the fixed baffie may be a single corrugated piece stamped from sheet metal, molded from plastic or the like. In any event the bafiie 42 serves to re-direct the flow from the moving scoops backWardly towards the web 10 so that the water follows a more or less sinusoidal path, back and forth through the web, to provide a highly eificient washing action.

In some instances it may be desirable to carry a certain amount of air into the water and in such cases the upper ends of the belts should be above the surface of the water 14 so that as the belts run their scoops will pick up a certain amount of air which will be carried down into the water and will cause considerable bubbling and turbulence in and around the web. The air may be eliminated by either raising the level of the water or lowering upper rollers 22 below the surface of the liquid.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a modication of the invention and in this embodiment in place of the fixed baffle 42 a second belt 20 is located on the opposite side of each reach of the web 10 to provide a positive driving return action for the washing medium. The belt 20' is of similar construction and mountin as the belts 20, being comprised of spaced scoops 26' and mounted on spaced rollers 22' and 24' to run in directions either the same or opposite to that of the web and width adjacent reaches of each belt 20 and 20' running in the same direction as indicated in FIG. 4 or in different directions as desired. In practice, the belts 20 and 20' are synchronized and arranged so that the discharge of the scoop on one belt will direct the flow into the op posing scoop so that again the washing medium follows a more or less sinusoidal path back and forth through the web 10 in a highly efiicient washing action.

By reason of the greatly enhanced washing action provided by the scoops together with the fixed bafiles or with the matching belts the web 10 may be washed thoroughly more quickly, in much less space and with less water than required by conventional washing equipment. Furthermore, the present invention may be easily added to conventional washing tanks with very little modification so that there is no need to replace original capital equipment which now may be greatly improved in efficiency by adding the belts and bafiles. The high intensity washing action is believed to be due in part at least to cavitation effects produced by the scoops. The cavitation develops differential pressures on opposite sides of the web causing water to flow back and forth through the fabric. The high turbulence generated by the belts further enhances the washing action.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that numerous modifications thereto will appear to those skilled in the art. For example, in place of separate scoops, which may be of stainless steel or the like, attached individually to the belts, the belt together with scoops of similar construction may be molded or otherwise formed of one piece from plastic or the like. Also, the belts may be driven all in the same direction or in difierent directions or in various combinations for optimum results. While the invention is particularly useful in washing running fabrics, it may be used in other applications wherein there is a need for efficient contact between a liquid and a running web.

Having thus described the invention what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patents of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for delivering a flow of liquid against a running Web passing through a liquid bath, comprising (a) a continuous belt,

(b) at least one elongated scoop mounted transversely of said belt and adapted to direct a flow of liquid outwardly of said belt upon longitudinal movement of said belt,

(0) means mounting said belt adjacent to the path of travel of said web, and

(d) power means for longitudinally moving said belt whereby said scoop will be carried parallel to one face of said web and will direct a flow of liquid against said one face,

(e) said scoop being formed with at least one passage open at the leading and trailing portions thereof for the passage of liquid therethrough.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a second belt similar to said first mentioned belt mounted for movement in spaced parallel relation to said first belt adjacent the opposite side of said web.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said belt is provided with a plurality of scoops mounted in spaced parallel relation along said belt.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with a tank adapted to hold a quantity of said liquid, a plurality of rollers mounted above and below the liquid surface for guiding said web into and out of said liquid along spaced parallel and reversing paths.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said power means is adapted to move said belt in a direction opposite to the direction of said web.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said scoop is formed with an outwardly facing channel lengthwise thereof.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said power means is adapted to move said belt in the same direction as said web.

8. Apparatus for delivering a flow of liquid against a running web passing through a liquid bath comprising (a) a continuous belt,

(b) at least one elongated scoop mounted transversely of said belt adapted to direct a flow of liquid outwardly of said belt upon a longitudinal movement of said belt,

(c) means mounting said belt adjacent to the path of travel of said web, and,

(d) power means for longitudinally moving said belt whereby said scoop will be carried parallel to one face of said web and will direct a flow of liquid against said one face,

(e) said scoop being formed with a leading wall inclined forwardly with respect to said belt to direct liquid inwardly of said belt upon longitudinal movement thereof, said scoop being further formed with a passage extending from said leading wall rearwardly and outwardly of said belt through which the liquid is forced upon the longitudinal movement of said belt.

5 6 9. Apparatus for delivering a flow of liquid against a adapted to re-direct the flow of liquid from said running Web passing through a liquid bath, comprising scoop back through said Web towards said belt.

(a) a continuous belt, (b) at least one elongated scoop mounted transversely References Clted of said belt and'adapted to direct a flow of liquid 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS glfltgadgzltof said belt upon longitudinal movement 3436935 4/1969 Quoos et a1 68 175 (c) means mounting said belt adjacent to the path of OTHER REFERENCES trav 0f Said German printed application K 23,531, May 24, 1956, (d) power means for longitudinally moving said belt 10 (Sieg1) whereby said scoop will be carried parallel to one face of said web and will direct a flow of liquid W LLIAM 1 PRICE, Primary Examiner against said one face, and, (e) a bafile mounted in opposing relation to said belt US, Cl. X.R.

on the opposite side said web and in spaced relation 15 6862 thereto, said bafile being transversely corrugated and 

